1st Edition

Religion and the Domestication of Dissent Or, How to Live in a Less Than Perfect Nation

By Russell T. McCutcheon Copyright 2005
    138 Pages
    by Routledge

    138 Pages
    by Routledge

    Since the events of 9/11 the representation of Islam has increasingly come adrift from its actuality. Scholars and pundits have effectively demonised a whole faith by wilfully apportioning blame and by ignoring the differences within the Islamic movement. 'Religion and the Domestication of Dissent' examines how the classifications we use to name and negotiate our social worlds - notably 'religion' - are implicitly political. The study ranges widely from contemporary film and art to the War on Terror and will be invaluable to readers interested in the politics behind the portrayal of dissenting religious groups.

    Preface Acknowledgements; 1. "Religion" and the Lust for Dogmatic Rule; 2. Swapping Spit around the Campfire; 3. The Tricks and Treats of Classification; 4. A Little More Authentic than was Really Necessary; 5. Another Reason why Societies Need Dissent; 6. That Versatile Little Problem-Solver; Afterword; References

    Biography

    Russell T. McCutcheon is Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Alabama.